Separator for running yarn and liquid



March 27, 1956 J. w. PEDLOW SEPARATOR FOR RUNNING YARN AND LIQUID Filed May 6, 1952 FETZ INVENTOR. (JOHN WATSON PEDLOW BY -5 fig fi I United States Patent" SEPARATOR FOR RUNNING YARN AND LIQUID John Watson Pedlow, Chester, Pa., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application May 6, 1952, Serial No. 286,236

9 Claims. (Cl. 210-149) The present invention relates to a device for stripping liquid from a running yarn and particularly to a device of the type which may be used in conjunction with a conduit to receive liquid and a continuous yarn traveling concurrently with the liquid.

In the spinning of regenerated cellulose yarns, for example, the filament-forming liquid may be extruded from a spinneret into-a tube extending away from the face of the spinneret. The extruded liquid is coagulated by a stream of liquid coagulant fed continuously into a region adjacent the spinneret and through the tube. The material of the nascent yarn is to a considerable extent regenerated as it passes while suspended in the liquid coagulant through the tube. However, after the yarn is spun and partially regenerated, it is desirable in accordance with some of the preferred methods of yarn manufacturing to promptly separate the liquid coagulant from the yarn as quickly and efiiciently as possible so that the coagulant may be returned to a reclamation system with as little dilution as possible and so that a further treatment, particularly a liquid treatment, may be applied immediately and more effectively to the yarn. A common disadvantage of stripping the liquid from the yarn is that in efiecting substantial removal of the liquid, the filaments constituting the yarn are broken to such an extent as to materially eifect the quality thereof. In general, the damage to the yarn increases in accordance with the etficiency and rapidity with which stripping action is performed by these devices.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for removing liquid from a running yarn rapidly and efiectively without damaging the yarn. It is a further purpose to provide an apparatus of relatively small dimensions for receiving a stream of liquid from a closed duct, stripping the liquid from the yarn, and then returning the liquid to a recirculatory or waste system. It is also an object to provide an apparatus through which the yarn is easily laced and which permits facile capturing of a yarn-end whereby it may be laced readily through apparatus for applying succeeding treatments. Other objects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the following description of the invention and the drawing relating thereto in which Fig. 1 is a section in elevation of apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the container portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with parts removed therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a pictorial view of one of the stripping elements shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 5 is a pictorial view of partition member shown as a part of the apparatus in Fig. 1.

According to the present invention, a device for strip ping liquid from a running strand is provided which comprises a compartment having an inlet port for the liquid and the strand, an outlet port for discharging the liquid, and at least one surface for guiding the strand as port being located generally below the battle to receive by gravity liquid forced through the bafile. Supported closely over the baffle along the side thereof traversed by the strand is a removable partition member which urges and implements the passage of the liquid through the baflle.

The single embodiment of the invention herein described, and illustrated in section view in Fig. 1, cornprises a container or body portion 5 having a tubular extension 6 providing an inlet port for a stream of liquid and strand discharged thereinto from a tube 7 which extends within the extension 6. The container 5 is provided also with a drainage or outlet port for liquid. For this purpose, the container 5 may have, as shown, a. tubular extension 9. The interior of the container 5 is divided into two regions by a plurality of rod-like elements 10 arranged in spaced and series relationship. The elements extend lengthwise between opposite walls of the container. As shown, they are arranged in an approximately straight line with the rounded surfaces thereof erally downwardly-facing surface of the bafile to receive all liquid between the elements 10 by gravity.

Supported immediately over the baffie comprising ele-' ments 10 is a partition member 14 having a handle 15 and a channeled surface 16. The channel or groove 16:: within the surface, shown best in Fig. 5, is relatively narrow but has its maximum depth adjacent the aperture 11. However, the groove is tapered in the direction in which it extends from the aperture 11 toward the opening in the top of the container 5 so that it becomes wider and more shallow toward its upper extremity. To support the member 14 within thecontainer, a pair of slots 17 and 18 are provided along opposing wall portions of the container and as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the member has lateral edge portions that fit within the slots (see Fig. 3). As shown in Fig. 1, the plane portion of the surface 16 in which the groove or extends so closely to the elements 10 as to be almost in contact with them. Due to the reduction in depth of the groove 16a, the total thickness of the member 14 may vary in the manner shown whereby the thickness of the end-portion of member 14 adjacent the inlet port is greater than that at its upper extremity. The plane portion of the surface 16 extends closely and almost into tangency with the rounded surfaces of the elements 10. The grooved portion of the surface, i. e., surface 160, extends in such a pattern relative to the upper surface of the elements as to obtain a desired or predetermined pattern of liquid distribution relative to the elements.

The elements 10 of which one is shown in detail in Fig. 4 are supported within a pair of slots 19 and 20 which occur in opposite wall-portions of the container.

Each element comprises an intermediate elongate portion.

22 and end-portions 23 and 24 ofv greater diameter than baflie with the' channel 16a occurs aven ers.

slots 19 and 20 with the surfaces of the end-portions of adjacent elements in contact. The elements may be inexpensively constructed of glasserod stock in gradually in creasing-.lcngthsin accordance with the; divergency. of thesiclewalls of the container: 5 fromv which; the. ele mentsaresupported. The end-portions ofthe glass rods areenclosed by a materialthat is chemicallyresistant to theingredients and the productsof reaction occurringjn thespinning bathdischargedfrom the tube, 7'. Theen: larged, endeportions. of the glassrods may be formed expediently by wrapping them with a plastic tape or film corrtprising a. material such. as. polyethylene, or one of thevinylresins. Small cups orcapsof-suitable inside diametermay be-molded from one .of theseorganic plastic materialsandappliedto theglass rods.

If; preferred, solutions. orlatices of these materials avY mQ Pfed andappliedas coatings; in one or more applications. As long as the slots 19 and 20 are constructed to widthsthat provide a loosebut closefit with respect to end-portions of the elements 10, such elements, may beJoosely supported within. the-slots. since there-is little inclinationforthem to be forced out of position by the movement of a yarn 25. thereof or-the liquid passing therebetween. However, theelements maybe;.also cemented in place-within theslots 19 and 20. If preferred, the elements may be constructed; without eulargernent of the. end-portions and the end-portions in: sorted; duringassernbly. of the separator into aseries of. spaced; holes provided inplace of eachslot; Thespacing, in: the elements with.respe.ct.to. each other; is notcritical. However, in. the practice ofthe; invention-the; glass. rods used in'constructingthe elements were wrappedwitha polyvinylchloride strip toobtain an-"increasein thieltness. of approximately 0.020 inch. Thewidths of the resulting gaps between the. intermediate portionsof' the; adjacent elements were thus approximately 0.020 inch.

The container 5. has anupper extension 28 for supporting a guide; device 29 comprisinga: hlock-31 and pins. 32 and 33. The device 29. is constructed preferably of corrosionandabrasion resistant materials; for: example, the pins may comprise glass and the block may be fabricatedtfrom glazed ceramicware. During operation, the;yarn 2.5 passes between the pins as'it'leaves the dcvice, andthe. path of the yarn through the device is thus properlyaligned. through theregion extending between: the upwardly-facing surfaces of the elements and tho= channeledsurfacetl6 of thepartition member 14}. The guide-device 29.also implements and continues the=stripping ofliquid from the strand. The extension 28 slopes toward-the interior of the compartment-5 andthus drains arm-liquid removed by theguide 29 into region contiguouswith the outlet part9.

In; the normal use of-thetdevice generallyrillustrated by;,-Eig.; 1, ,a.yarn.-.and a liquid'jare-discharged from the tuba-7: into-the. region overlying the elements-10 m a. de-- sired; velocity, for example; a velocity within the-range ofj 50-;to l50.meters per minute. Asthe-channeled por tioniof; the surface 16 slopes graduallyin toward'a-plane tangentrtoathe surfaces of theelements, a: lateral pres sure-.is appliedto the liquid which urges it between th'e elements. The channel while tapering to-less-depthalso tapersto greater :width so that the liquid is distributed'ina direction lateral with-respect to themovement-of-the strand. above and lengthwiseof the elements 10; The space? between the elements available-for=passage-of theliquid to the drainagospace at the oth'er side-thereof as the strand: and the 1 liquid advance progressively over the elements. becomes greater with the increasing .width of the channehso'asto facilitate morecomplete-andrapid-separation ofgthe-liquid from the yarn; I

Air-important advantage of the--device -of thwpresentinvention? is: that the partition member-.145 may: be re moved .toiacilitate the lacing.otithe strandtthrouglrthe container. Forwexample, when thespinningof a viscose yarn is commenced, a stream of liquid and strand is discharged from the tube 7 into the container 5. With the member 14 removed, a body of the liquid, with the lead portion of the strand floating therein, accumulates in the region of the container above the inlet port at 11 and the elements 10. The liquid entering the container is, of course, under no lateral'constraint and, consequently, doesnot flow as rapidly between the elemcntslflr-asduring normal operation. The level of the liquid remains at a substantial height within. the above mentionedrergion. The strand may be readily captured while floating within this body of liquid and then laced through the guide 29. Thereupon, the. member- 14. is. inserted. into place to obtain normal functioning of,.the device.

The device herein described is advantageously used in conjunction with vertical-tube spinning apparatus since the outlet extension 9 is adapted for receiving the liquid by gravity. However, the orientation. of; the; dcyiceeas illustrated, is not critical in availing t themperatQEmmt; of, the. advantages. which may be derivedtherefrom int the processing ofyarns. The devicetof 'thepresentfinvcns tion permits the stripping of liquid fromyarmwitlna: minimum of filament breakage. and abrasion; Theresis little, if. any, tendency for filament to. wrapg-any porrtion. of the device engaged by; the yarn. Theadevicethas a further. advantage in that theiportionsgof thestIiPPi Z-t elements engaged-by the yarn arernaintaineddntwet courdition and notisubject to deposition; ofzsolidsmatcrialitr; carried in suspended or; dissolved form. withina the liquid? The. device. is cheaply.- and; readily constructed: ofvanysonez of; the many corrosion resistant organic: thermoplastictandiz thermo-setting resins of synthetic: origin. currently available-hard rubber, or lead. Portions: suchzas the elements: 10.; and-.the -.pins.32 and -.33;are.preferably fabricated from. abrasion-resistant materials such 21$.ih05613i611li0116df.

While a preferred embodiment of. theinvention has been shown; anddescribed, itriszto beunderstoodt that changes and, variations may be; made without departing from thespirit and. scopetof'the invention as definedtinaz the tappending claims;

I. claim;

1. A. device for separating liquid from a; running: strand .while traversing. a substantially fixed-path extend-'- ing-through the device comprising meanshaving-a groupofiroundedelongate upwardly-facing convexsurfaces dis' posed in substantially-parallel closely-spaced series relationship underneath, and progressively: along, said path; means'disposed above said path having a- =down-,- wardlyefacing: surface in closely-adjacent relationshipwith-.- said; upwardly-facing surfaces; a longitudinalfpor tion: of". the: downwardly-facingsurface extending along;

saidtpath. and being recessed, suclr surface portion definingja passageway alongthepath between-=-both of-"said means; anda duct forsupplying a -running-"strandanda stream of: liquidrnoying-concurrentlytherewith .toone endiof: the passageway, said-recessed surface portiomdefining at the other-end of the. passageway'an: opening;

for discharging: the strand from thepassageway; there cessedf surfaceportion beingprogressively moreshallow in a direction extending from 'the;-duct*-toward"tlic* opening, said means disposed underneath-thepathcom prising means for draining the liquiddownwardlyyft'om" said surfaces.

2? A deviceforseparating a liquid .from a runningstrand whiletraversing a substantially-fixed pathex. tending through said device comprising means havinggya group ofrounded elongate upwardly;facing convex surfaces disposed in substantiaily-parallel,closely-spaced seg riesrelationshipunderneath; I and progressively along. said path, means disposed above said-path haying: a; downwardly-facing surfaceinclosely-adjacent'rclationr shipj withsaid upwardly-facingsurfaces; a1. longitudinnifi portion of th'edcwnwardly-faeingsurface-entending along said'=' path';.. and being recessed to defihe" a. passageway: along thepathbetween both-'of 'said -means, and a dnct for supplying a running strand and a stream of liquid moving concurrently therewith to one end of the pas sageway, said recessed surface defining at the other end of the passageway an opening for discharging the strand from the passageway, the recessed surface portion being progressively wider and more shallow in a direction extending from the duct toward the opening, said means underneath the path comprising means for draining the liquid away from said surfaces.

3. A device for separating liquid from a running strand while traversing a substantially fixed path extending through the device comprising means having a group of rounded elongate upwardly-facing convex surfaces disposed in substantially-parallel closely-spaced series relationship underneath, and progressively along, said path, means readily detachable from the remainder of the device disposed above said path and having a downwardly-facing surface in adjacent relationship with said upwardly-facing surfaces, means for detaching the last-named means, a longitudinal portion of said downwardly-facing surface extending along said path and be ing recessed, such surface portion defining a passageway along the path between the first-named means and the second-named means, a duct for supplying a running strand in a stream of liquid moving concurrently therewith to one end of the passageway, said recessed surface portion defining at the other end of the passageway an opening between the first-named means and the second-named means through which the strand may pass from the passageway, the recessed surface portion being progressively more shallow in a direction toward the opening to progressively reduce the cross section of the passageway whereby liquid discharged from the duct is forced downwardly between said upwardly-facing surfaces, said means underneath the path comprising means for draining the liquid away from said surfaces.

4. A device for separating liquid from a running strand while traversing a substantially fixed path extending through the device comprising upwardly-facing perforate means disposed underneath, and lengthwise of, said path, means disposed above the path having a downwardly-facing surface in closely adjacent relationship with the first-named means, a longitudinal portion of the downwardly-facing surface extending along said path and being recessed, such surface portion defining a passageway along the path between both of said means, a duct for supplying a running strand and a stream of liquid moving concurrently therewith to one end of the passageway, said recessed surface portion defining at the other end of the passageway an opening between the two means through which the strand may pass from the passageway, the recessed surface portion being progressively more shallow in a direction extending from the duct to the opening to progressively reduce the cross section of the passageway whereby liquid discharged from the duct is forced downwardly through the perforate means; the perforate means comprising means for draining the liquid away from the perforate means.

5. A device for separating liquid from a running strand while traversing a substantiallyfixed inclined path extending through the device comprising means having a group of rounded elongate upwardly-facing convex surfaces disposed in substantially parallel closelyspaced series relationship underneath, and progressively along, said path, means disposed above said path having a downwardly-facing surface in closely adjacent relationship with said upwardly-facing surfaces, a longitudinal portion of the downwardly-facing surfaces extending along said path and being recessed, such surface portion defining a passageway along the path between both of said means, a duct for supplying a running strand and a stream of liquid moving concurrently therewith to one end of the passageway, said recessed surface portion defining at the other end of the passageway an opening between the two means through which shallow in a direction extending from the duct toward the opening to progressively reduce the cross section of the passageway whereby liquid discharged from the duct is forced downwardly between said surfaces of the low er means, said lower means comprising for means draining the liquid away from said surfaces.

6. A device for separating liquid from a running strand while traversing a substantially fixed path ex-1 tending through the device comprising means having a group of rounded elongate upwardly-facing convex surfaces disposed in substantially parallel closely-spaced series relationship underneath, and progressively along, said path, means disposed above said path having a downwardly-facing surface in closely adjacent relationship with said upwardly-facing surface, a longitudinal portion of the downwardly-facing surface extending along said path and being recessed, such surface portion defining a passageway along the path between both of said means, a duct for supplying a running strand in a stream of liquid moving concurrently therewith to one end of the passageway, said recessed surface portion defining at the other end of the passageway an opening between the two means for discharging the strand from the passageway, means for enclosing a region disposed underneath the first-named means, the recessed surface portion being progressively more shallow in a direction extending from the duct toward the opening to progressively reduce the cross section of the passageway whereby liquid discharged from the duct is forced downwardly between said upward-facing surfaces into said region, outlet means for said region connected to the enclosing means at a level below all of said upwardly-facing surfaces.

7. A device for separating liquid from a running strand comprising a container, a plurality of closelyspaced rounded elongate parallel elements extending between two walls of the container, means disposed above said elements having a downwardly-facing surface in closely-adjacent relationship with the elements, said downwardly-facing surface having a longitudinal portion for enclosing a passageway extending transversely above the elements, duct means extending through a wall portion of the container and terminating at one end of the passageway, said recessed surface portion defining at the other end of the passageway an opening between the elements and the enclosing means for passage of a strand from the passageway, said enclosing means being removably supported between said two walls, the recessed surface portion being progressively more shallow in a direction extending from the duct means toward the opening to reduce the cross section of the passageway whereby liquid discharged from the duct is forced downwardly between said elements, said means having the upwardly-facing surfaces comprising means for draining the liquid away from said surfaces.

8. A device as defined in claim 7 wherein the elements are rods and disposed in a substantially planular arrangement between two opposing walls of the container.

9. A device for separating liquid from a running strandcomprising a container having an inlet port for discharging a stream of liquid and a running strand into the container and an outlet port for discharging the liquid from the container, guide means in spaced relation ship with the inlet port for determining the path of the strand through the container, two walls spaced at opposite sides of the path, each Wall having a groove extending therealong in a plane common to the groove of the other wall and substantially parallel to the path, said plane of the grooves extending from a wall portion of the container between the inlet port and the outlet port, a plurality of closely spaced rounded parallel rods ex- 7 tending from the bottom of the onergroove to the bottom of the other transversely with respect to the direction of the path, saitl' rods being disposed by the supporting grooves therefor: in subjacent relation. to the path along a substantialporti'on of its length, said pair of walls having another pairof grooves, each groove of the latter pair extending along one of said walls closely adjacent a groove'of the other pair, the general plane of the latter pair of grooves intersecting a wall uid' entering the space under lateral constraint whereby 15 it is urged between the elementstand drained into the outlet port.

References Gited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Pierce Apr. 28, 1903 Paramor Apr. 2; 1918 Berger Jan. 26, 1932 Hejduk Nov. 26, 1935'- Jones Feb. 4, 1936 Kriebel Sept. 1, 1936 Simpson Mar. 7,. 1939 Ostermann May 27, 19412 Millhiser Apr. 20, 1948 Skinner Mar. 8, 1949 Wedler Mar. 13, 1951.

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Jan. 21, 1916. 

1. A DEVICE FOR SEPARATING LIQUID FROM A RUNNING STRAND WHILE TRAVERSING A SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED PATH EXTENDING THROUGH THE DEVICE COMPRISING MEANS HAVING A GROUP OF ROUNDED ELONGATE UPWARDLY-FACING CONVEX SURFACES DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIALLY-PARALLEL CLOSELY-SPACED SERIES RELATIONSHIP UNDERNEATH, AND PROGRESSIVELY ALONG, SAID PATH, MEANS DISPOSED ABOVE SAID PATH HAVING A DOWNWARDLY-FACING SURFACE IN CLOSELY-ADJACENT RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID UPWARDLY-FACING SURFACES, A LONGITUDINAL PORTION OF THE DOWNWARDLY-FACING SURFACE EXTENDING ALONG SAID PATH AND BEING RECESSED, SUCH SURFACE PORTION DEFINING A PASSAGEWAY ALONG THE PATH BETWEEN BOTH OF SAID MEANS, AND A DUCT FOR SUPPLYING A RUNNING STRAND AND A STREAM OF LIQUID MOVING CONCURRENTLY THEREWITH TO ONE END OF PASSAGEWAY, SAID RECESSED SURFACE PORTION DEFINING AT THE OTHER END OF THE PASSAGEWAY AN OPENING FOR DISCHARGING THE STRAND FROM THE PASSAGEWAY, THE RECESSED SURFACE PORTION BEING PROGRESSIVELY MORE SHALLOW IN A DIRECTION EXTENDING FROM THE DUCT TOWARD THE OPENING, SAID MEANS DISPOSED UNDERNEATH THE PATH COMPRISING MEANS FOR DRAINING THE LIQUID DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID SURFACE. 